Storage battery.



PATENTED MAY 26, 19,03..

IMI

R. DARLING STORAGE BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED DEO 26, 1901 Fly J OOOOO OCX Np. 729,146.l

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UNTTED STATES Patented May 26, 1903.

ROBERT DARLING, OF RYE, NEW YORK.

STO RAG E BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNd`4 729,140, dated May 26,1903. Application mea December 26,1901. serai No. 87.189. d10 maar ToctZZ wiz/0772. t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT DARLING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rye, in the county of Vestchester and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Secondary orStorage Batteries, of which the following isa specification, referencebeing had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

The invention which forms the subject of my present application is animprovement in secondary or storage batteries, particularly of thelead-zinc type, in which a negative element of lead is used inconjunction with a positive amalgamated zinc element in an electrolyticsolution, and more specifically to that form of such batteries in whichthe elements are supported horizontally one above the other.

The improvements in the present case will be described and illustratedas embodied in a battery of the kind referred to.

One of the chief features of my invention resides in the manner in whichthe negative element is constructed. Heretofore these elements, whetherused singly or in numbers in a cell, have been in the form of plates ora plurality of sheets secured together to form laminated plates of asize corresponding to the capacity or dimensions of the cell in which itor they are used; but this fact often results in considerable waste andloss, since any local injury to or disorganization of a plate destroys,by reason of the unitary nature of its structure, the usefulness of theplate as a whole and necessitates its replacement by an entirely newone. It has, moreover, been found that large plates are very liable tobuckle or become distorted in the use of the battery, which renders thempeculiarly liable to injury if not destruction. To avoid this, I make mynegative plate or element in a plurality of sections each constituting adistinctive unit, and these unit-sections are assembled in any desirednumber, according to the size of plate required, and. each isindependently connected to and, preferably in part at least, supportedby a conducting grid or connector. I also effect the connection betweeneach of such sectional units and the grid so that the mass of materialof which each is composed will be symmetrically disposed with respect tothe point of contact, from which it follows that the electrical actionsaffecting the sections will be much more uniform. In addition lto thesefeatures I have devised special and improved ways of constructing theplate-sections and attaching them to the grid and certain novel and veryeffective devices for supporting the positive or zinc element andcompleting the connection between the same and the external circuit andother details in the'construction of the battery, which will be morefully described by reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a cell ofmyimproved battery,show ing the parts contained therein in elevation.Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a negative element made up of four units.Fig. 3 is a side view and part section of one `of such units, and Fig. 4is a view in perspective of the con nector and support for the positiveor zinc element. Y

A is a jar or cell of any suitable material, preferably of glass .and ofany convenient form, but provided with a continuous interior groove orchannel A in an olfset or shoulder near its rim to contain an oily orgreasy substance which will prevent creeping of salts over the edges ofthe jar. Each cell or jar is provided with a lid or cover A, ofinsulating material. The positive element is supported at the Vbottom ofthe jar and is composed of au amalgamated zinc plate B. This plate isconnected to the circuits by the device illustrated in detail in Fig. 4and which in general terms comprises copper conductors C C, withhorizontal exposed or bared portions, upon which the plate B rests, andinsulated and protected vertical portions united to a lead terminal. Themanner of constructing this device is in detail as follows: Two straightcopper wires C C are united to a transverse bar or cylinder D, of lead,preferably by casting the latter in a suitable mold around the ends ofsaid wires. The bar D is also provided with a tongue E, which serves asa ter minal. After uniting the wires C to the bar D they are coated oversuch portions as are to extend vertically through the cell with `asuitable greasy substance to prevent theiramalgamation and consequentaccess of the mercury used in the battery to the lead D. Tubes IOO -rests when the battery is finally assembled for use. A similar body ofinsulating material H is secured to the lower portions of theinsulating-sleeves F for the purpose of aording a ledge or offset forthe negative plate to rest upon. By this means the connector is securelyheld down in its proper position in the cell bythe weight of thenegative plate.

The essential features of the connector for the positive element being,as ydescribed above, conductors with protected vertical portions, baredhorizontal portions, and insulating attachments at or near the ends ofthe horizontal portions,which by contact with the negative plate preventdisplacement ofr the connector, it is obvious that the special form ormode of application to the conductors of the said insulating bodies isunimportant. It is also evident that instead of two wires a single wirebent to the general U form (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4) may beemployed. I prefer, however, to use twovwires and to embed their freeends in a plate G, of hard rubber, and to employ a similar plate H atthe opposite side of the cell, which is formed with perforationspermitting it to be slipped over the ends of sleeves F before the wiresare bent.

My negative plate or element, as stated above, is made up of a number ofsections or units K K, generally not less than four and as many more asmay be desired. Each section or unit is, infact, a complete plate initself, and the number used Will be determined by the dimensions of thecell or the capacity of the battery. As all of these units are alike inconstruction, it is only necessary to describe one in detail, for whichpurpose reference is made to Fig. 3.

L L are comparatively thick plates of antimonious lead, which Whileconducting is not materially affected by the electrical or chemicalactions going on in the battery. Between these plates are a number ofthin sheets or plates of lead M, Which are primarily corrugated and thenirinly pressed together. The laminated element thus formed is boundtogether by bolts N, of antimonious lead, passing through suitableperforations and riveted or fused to the outer plates M. Numerousperforations O are also formed through the entire pile of sheets andplates, preferably by punching holes in each sheet and plate before theyare superposed.

The original corrugations of the lead sheets while very much reduced bythe pressure ap- The ends C C are plied for compacting the element arenot fully leveled down, but leave interstitial channels, through whichthe electrolyte permeates, and this is further facilitated by thepresence of the transverse perforations O.

' Through each unit or plateKthere is formed a central perforation toreceive a stem P, of antimonious lead, which is intimately united,generally by the ordinary process of burning to both of the end oroutside plates L L. By means of these stems P the plates K are united toa grid R, which is a frame cast of antimonious lead and provided with anupright S, which serves as a terminal, and as many perforatedenlargements T as are required in any particular case.

The stems P may be integral with the grid; but it is more desirable tounite them thereto by burning after their attachment to the plates.

When the proper number of unit-sections K to make up a plate of thedesired size have been attached to the grid R, the element thus formedis let down into the cell over the zinc element until its under siderests upon projections or supports U, generally molded as a part of thewalls of the cell. In this position the negative element should benearly or quite in contact with the insulating-plates G H, so as to keepthe positive connector rmly in place. The cover A" is then put on, andthe cell is complete.

The operation of and manner of using the battery' are matters which arefamiliar to electricians. It being understood that the negative platesare suitably treated or formed previously to their introduction into thecell and that the latter is filled with an acidulated solution, thebattery is charged by passing a current through it from the lead to thezinc element. This results in the formation of a layer of spongy zincand mercury on the positive plate and the oxidation ofthe negativeplate. If then the battery be discharged, it will be found to produce aremarkably high electromotive force and to yield a steady iiow ofcurrent.

By exhaustive tests and severe usage I have found this battery to behighly efficient, economical, and practical. It is little liable toinjury yfrom improper charging or abnormal discharge and possessesremarkable durability.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a secondary or storage battery the combination with a positiveelement of a negative plate supported horizontally above the same, andcomposed of sectional units, and a conducting-grid to Which each of saidunits is independently connected.

2. In a secondary lor storage battery the combination with a positiveelement of a negative plate supported horizontally above the same andcomposed of unit-sections of lamina@ of lead compacted and securedtogether between plates of antimonious lead, and a con- ICO IIS

reame ducting-grid to which each of said sections is independentlyconnected.

3. In a secondary or storage battery the combination with a positiveelement of a negative plate supported horizontally,fand composed ofperforated sectional units each consisting of a superposed vseries oflead sheets between end plates of antimonious lead, and a conductinggrid of antimonious lead to which each of said sections is independentlyconnected.

4. In a secondary or storage battery, the combination with a negativeelement, of a positive element consisting of an amalgamated zinc platesupported horizontally beneath the same, conductors having horizontalportions in contact With the zinc plate and vertical portions extendingup through the cell, and insulating bodies secured to the saidconductors and extending up to the negative element and serving toprevent displacement of the conductors.

5. In a secondary or storage battery the combination with horizontalplates or elements of a connector for the lower or positive elementhaving horizontal bared or exposed metallic surfaces and insulatingprojections at the ends of the bared portions and upon which the upperor negative plate or element rests.

6. In a secondary or storage battery the combination with horizontalplates or elements, of a connector for the lower or positive elementhaving a horizontal portion with exposed or bared metallic surfaces uponwhich the positive element rests, and an insulated vertical portion, andinsulated projections at the ends of the exposed portions and upon whichthe upper or negative plate or element rests.

'7. In a secondary or storage battery, the combination with a negativeelement and a positive element consisting in part of mercury, of ametallic connector extending from the positive element up through theelectrolyte, a protector for the portion of the connector not in contactWith the element composed of a coating of a greasy substance and asheathing of insulating material, as set forth.

ROBERT DARLING.

Witnesses:

STILLMAN H. STORY, P. ANDREW IAIoLM.

